Spin torque transfer memory cell structures and methods

ABSTRACT

Spin Torque Transfer (STT) memory cell structures and methods are described herein. One or more STT memory cell structures include a tunneling barrier material positioned between a ferromagnetic storage material and a pinned ferromagnetic material in contact with an antiferromagnetic material. The tunneling barrier material is a multiferroic material and the antiferromagnetic material, the ferromagnetic storage material, and the pinned ferromagnetic material are positioned between a first electrode and a second electrode.

PRIORITY APPLICATION INFORMATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/885,100, filed Sep. 17, 2010, to be issued as U.S. Pat. No.8,300,454, the specification of which is incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor memorydevices, methods, and systems, and more particularly, to spin torquetransfer (STT) memory cell structures and methods.

BACKGROUND

Memory devices are typically provided as internal, semiconductor,integrated circuits in computers or other electronic devices. There aremany different types of memory, including random-access memory (RAM),read only memory (ROM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronousdynamic random access memory (SDRAM), flash memory, resistance variablememory, such as phase change random access memory (PCRAM) and resistiverandom access memory (RRAM), and magnetic random access memory (MRAM),such as spin torque transfer random access memory (STT RAM), amongothers.

MRAM devices can employ a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) that can beviewed as a multi-state resistor due to different relative orientations(e.g., parallel and antiparallel) of the magnetic moments, which canchange the magnitude of a current passing through the device. In a writeprocess, magnetic fields caused by currents passing through conductivelines (e.g., word and bit lines) can be used to switch a magnetic momentdirection of a “free” material of the MTJ, which can place the device ina high or low resistance state. A read process can then be used todetermine the state of cell.

As the size of MRAM cells decreases, the distance between adjacent cellsalso decreases, which can result in increased cell disturb caused by thecurrent carrying lines used to switch the magnetic moment directions. Asan example, the write current associated with a MRAM device can be about10 mA. can be difficult as the size of the MRAM cells and currentcarrying lines decreases. For instance, the smaller width lines canrequire greater currents to produce the necessary switching fields,which increases power consumption.

STT devices share some of the operational features of previous MTJcells; however, switching of the free material magnetic moment (e.g.,the write process) can be produced by passage of the spin polarizedcurrent itself. For instance, unpolarized conduction electrons passingthrough a first magnetic material having its magnetic moment oriented ina given direction (e.g. a “pinned” material) are preferentiallypolarized by their passage through that material by a quantum mechanicalexchange interaction with the polarized bound electrons in the material.Such a polarization can occur to conduction electrons that reflect fromthe surface of the magnetized material as well as to those that passthrough it. The efficiency of such a polarization process can dependupon the crystalline structure of the material. When such a stream ofpolarized conduction electrons subsequently pass through a secondmagnetic material (e.g., the “free” material) whose polarizationdirection is not fixed in space, the polarized conduction electronsexert a torque on the bound electrons in the magnetic materials which,if sufficient, can reverse the polarization of the bound electrons and,thereby, reverse the magnetic moment of the magnetic material.

The use of a current internal to the cell to cause the magnetic momentreversal provides for smaller currents (e.g., about 200 microamps) thanthose required to produce an external magnetic field (e.g., fromadjacent current carrying lines) to produce the moment switching.However, further reduction in the current used to produce magneticmoment switching in SIT RAM cells can provide benefits such as furtherreducing the energy consumption and thermal profile in the materialsassociated with such cells, which can improve cell integrity andreliability, among other benefits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates an STT memory cell structure in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B illustrates an STT memory cell structure in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 1C-1E illustrate an STT memory cell structure in accordance withone or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A illustrates an STT memory cell structure in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B illustrates an STT memory cell structure in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of a memory array having one or more STTmemory cell structures in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Spin Torque Transfer (STT) memory cell structures and methods aredescribed herein. One or more STT memory cell structures include atunneling barrier material positioned between a ferromagnetic storagematerial and a pinned ferromagnetic material in contact with anantiferromagnetic material. The tunneling barrier material is amultiferroic material and the antiferromagnetic material, theferromagnetic storage material, and the pinned ferromagnetic materialare positioned between a first electrode and a second electrode.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide various benefits such asproviding magnetic switching within STT memory cells via an appliedelectric field (e.g., due to exchange coupling between a multiferroictunneling barrier material in contact with a ferromagnetic storagematerial associated with the cell). Embodiments can provide for areduced programming current as compared to previous STT memory cells.Embodiments can also provide benefits such as added data reliabilityand/or stability upon switching (e.g., by preventing thermally inducedmagnetic switching), multi-bit SIT memory cell capability, and a reducedphysical footprint as compared to previous STT memory cells, among otherbenefits.

The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the firstdigit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and theremaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing.Similar elements or components between different figures may beidentified by the use of similar digits. For example, 104 may referenceelement “04” in FIG. 1, and a similar element may be referenced as 204in FIG. 2. As will be appreciated, elements shown in the variousembodiments herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as toprovide a number of additional embodiments of the present disclosure. Inaddition, as will be appreciated, the proportion and the relative scaleof the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate theembodiments of the present invention, and should not be taken in alimiting sense.

FIG. 1A illustrates an STT memory cell structure 100-1 in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The memory cellstructure 100-1 comprises a stack structure that includes a tunnelingbarrier material 108 positioned between a ferromagnetic storage material106 and a pinned ferromagnetic material 110 in contact with anantiferromagnetic material 112. The materials 106, 108, 110, and 112form an magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) element and are positionedbetween a first electrode 104 (e.g., a top electrode) and a secondelectrode 114 (e.g., a bottom electrode). In various embodiments of thepresent disclosure, the tunneling barrier material 108 of the MTJelement is a multiferroic material 108. The multiferroic material 108can exhibit coupled ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism and/orantiferromagnetism. As examples, the multiferroic material 108 can beBiFeO3 (BFO), TbMn2O5, TbMnO3, Bi₄Fe₂TiO₁₂, or NiBi₂O₄, among othermultiferroic materials.

The arrow illustrated in the pinned ferromagnetic material 110 indicatesthe direction of magnetization within the material 110. The arrow 105indicates alternative directions of the magnetization within theferromagnetic storage material 106 of structure 100-1 (e.g., themagnetization direction 105 is switchable between a parallel orantiparallel orientation as compared to the magnetization direction ofmaterial 110). As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, aspin polarized current can be applied to the memory structure 100-1(e.g., in a current perpendicular to plane configuration between theelectrodes 104 and 114), which can switch the magnetization direction ofthe ferromagnetic storage material 106 when the critical switchingcurrent density (Jc) is exceeded. The different directions ofmagnetization 105 can correspond to particular data states of an STT RAMcell.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the magneticpolarization of a “free” magnetic material (e.g., magnetizationdirection 105 of ferromagnetic storage material 106) in an STT memorycell can be altered and/or controlled via application of electricfields, which can provide benefits such as reducing the programmingcurrent used to achieve magnetic polarization switching within the cell,among other benefits. One or more embodiments include a multiferroicmaterial (e.g., a ferroelectric antiferromagnetic multiferroic materialand/or a ferroelectric ferromagnetic multiferroic material) functioningas the tunneling junction material of an MTJ element associated with theSTT memory cell.

Application of an electric field to the multiferroic tunneling barriermaterial (e.g., 108) can be used to manipulate (e.g., rotate) theantiferromagnetic ordering and/or ferromagnetic ordering within themultiferroic (e.g., by changing the ferroelectric ordering coupled tothe ferromagnetic and/or antiferromagnetic ordering within themultiferroic material). As an example, a current 116 (e.g., aprogramming current) flowing through the structure 100-1 can produce anelectric field 115 through the stack structure (e.g., an electric fieldproduced between the top electrode 104 and the bottom electrode 114).The electric field 115 rotates the ferroelectric polarization within themultiferroic tunneling barrier material 108, which can reduce thecurrent required to induce switching of the magnetization 105 (e.g.,with respect to the magnetization direction of the pinned ferromagneticmaterial 110) from parallel to antiparallel, or vice versa, during aprogramming operation. The multiferroic tunneling material 108 can havea thickness of about 1 nanometer (nm) or less, in various embodiments.However, the thickness of material 108 is not so limited. For instance,the thickness of material 108 can be various thicknesses suitable forperforming as a spin polarizing tunnel material.

As described further below, in various embodiments, a ferroelectricpolarization change within the multiferroic tunneling barrier material108 (e.g., as a result of an applied electric field), can change theantiferromagnetic and/or ferromagnetic ordering of the multiferroicmaterial 108. As a result of exchange coupling between the multiferroicmaterial 108 and the ferromagnetic storage material 106, theantiferromagnetic and/or ferromagnetic ordering of the multiferroicmaterial influences the magnetic polarization 105 of the ferromagneticstorage material 106. As such, the inherent coupling of the ferroicorder parameters (e.g., the ferroelectric order parameter coupling witheither or both of the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic orderparameter) within a multiferroic material (e.g., 108) can be used tomanipulate (e.g., switch) the magnetic polarization (e.g., 105) of aferromagnetic material (e.g., 106) coupled thereto.

In various embodiments, one or more electrodes in addition to the topelectrode 104 and the bottom electrode 114 can be used to provide anelectric field to the multiferroic material 108 in order to alter themagnetization direction 105 of ferromagnetic storage material 106. Asdescribed below, the additional electrodes can be external to the STTstack structure 100-1. In one or more embodiments, the additionalelectrodes can be gate electrodes of an access device (e.g., a verticalaccess device) coupled to the STT stack 100-1.

In some instances, the exchange coupling between the multiferroictunneling barrier 108 and the ferromagnetic storage material 106 may besufficient to switch the magnetization direction 105 of the storagematerial 106 (e.g., from parallel or antiparallel to the magnetizationdirection of the pinned material 110 to antiparallel or parallel). Ininstances in which the exchange coupling between the multiferroicmaterial 108 and storage material 106 is insufficient to induce a fullswitching of the magnetization direction 105 of the storage material106, a “magnetic torque” can be induced that can reduce the currentrequired to induce full switching in the STT memory cell. Moreover, theinduced magnetic torque can provide added data reliability and/orstability upon switching (e.g., by preventing thermally induced magneticswitching).

As an example, the STT memory cell structure 100-2 illustrated in FIG.1B includes electrodes 119-1 and 119-2, which are in addition to the topelectrode 104 and the bottom electrode 114. The electrodes 119-1 and119-2 are external to the STT stack structure 100-1 shown in FIG. 1A. Inthis example, the electrodes 119-1 and 119-2 are configured to providean electric field 120 to the multiferroic tunneling barrier material 108(e.g., due to an applied voltage difference between the electrodes 119-1and 119-2). The electric field 120 affects the antiferromagneticordering of the multiferroic material 108, which can alter theswitchable magnetization direction 105 of the ferromagnetic storagematerial 106, as described above. The arrow 117 represents theswitchable ferroelectric polarization direction of the multiferroictunneling barrier material 108.

The STT structure 100-2 includes a dielectric material 123-1 positionedbetween the electrode 119-1 and an outer edge portion of themultiferroic material 108 and a dielectric material 123-2 positionedbetween the electrode 119-2 and an opposing outer edge portion of themultiferroic material 108. The dielectric materials 123-1 and 123-2 canbe an oxide material or other dielectric material and can prevent damageto the multiferroic tunneling barrier material 108.

In some embodiments, an electric field can be applied to themultiferroic material 108 responsive to an applied voltage between oneof the electrodes 119-1/119-2 and one of the electrodes 104/114. Invarious embodiments, such an electric field can be sufficient to alterthe magnetization direction 105 of the material 106 (e.g., due toexchange coupling between the multiferroic and the material 106resulting from induced polarization changes in multiferroic 108).

FIGS. 1C-1E illustrate an STT memory cell structure 100-3 in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The memorystructure 100-3 includes the STT stack structure 100-1 shown in FIG. 1Acoupled to an access device 125. In this example, the access device is avertical field effect transistor (VFET) 125 formed from or on asubstrate 101. The substrate can be a silicon substrate, silicon oninsulator (SOI) substrate, or silicon on sapphire (SOS) substrate, amongothers.

As described in connection with FIGS. 1A and 1B, the STT structure 100-3includes a MTJ element positioned between a top electrode 104 and abottom electrode 114. The tunneling barrier material 108 of the MTJ is amultiferroic material. In this example, the multiferroic tunnelingbarrier material 108 is located between a first gate electrode 118-1 anda second gate electrode 118-2 of the vertical access device 125. Themultiferroic tunneling barrier material 108 is in contact with theferromagnetic storage material 106 and the pinned ferromagnetic material110. A first edge portion of the multiferroic material 108 is alignedwith a first edge portion of the ferromagnetic storage material 106 anda second edge portion of the multiferroic material 108 is aligned with asecond edge portion of the ferromagnetic storage material 106.

The gate electrodes 118-1 and 118-2 are configured to provide anelectric field 120 to the multiferroic material 108 in association witha programming operation performed on the STT memory cell. In thisexample, a gate oxide 122-1/122-2 corresponding to the VFET 125insulates the multiferroic tunneling barrier material 108 from therespective gate electrodes 118-1/118-2. As described above, themagnetization direction 105 is switchable (e.g., between a parallel andantiparallel orientation with respect to the magnetization direction ofthe pinned material 110). The direction of the electric field 120affects the ferroelectric polarization direction 117 of the multiferroicmaterial 108, which can induce antiferromagnetic exchange couplingbetween the multiferroic 108 and the ferromagnetic material 106, whichcan thereby alter the magnetization direction 105 of material 106.

For instance, the embodiment of FIG. 1D illustrates an electric field120-1 provided to the STT structure 100-3 via an applied voltagedifference between the gate electrodes 118-1 and 118-2. The arrow 117-1indicates the induced ferroelectric polarization direction within themultiferroic tunneling barrier material 108 due to the applied electricfield 120-1. Arrow 105-1 indicates the magnetization directioncorresponding to the ferromagnetic storage material 106 of the MTJ(e.g., parallel to the magnetization direction of the pinnedferromagnetic material 110, in this example). The induced ferroelectricpolarization 117-1 within material 108 affects the antiferromagneticordering of the multiferroic material 108, which in turn affects themagnetization direction 105-1 of the ferromagnetic storage material 106.The arrows 117-1 and 105-1 are examples and may not represent the actualorder parameter orientations within the respective materials.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1E illustrates an electric field120-2 provided to the STT structure 100-3 via an applied voltagedifference between the gate electrodes 118-1 and 118-2. The arrow 117-2indicates the induced ferroelectric polarization direction within themultiferroic tunneling barrier material 108 due to the applied electricfield 120-2. Arrow 105-2 indicates the magnetization directioncorresponding to the ferromagnetic storage material 106 of the MTJ(e.g., antiparallel to the magnetization direction of the pinnedferromagnetic material 110). In this example, the induced exchangecoupling between the multiferroic 108 and the storage material 106 dueto the electric field 120-2 is sufficient to switch the magnetizationdirection 105 of the storage material 106 (e.g., from the parallelorientation 105-1 shown in FIG. 1D to the antiparallel orientation 105-2shown in FIG. 1E). The arrows 112-1 and 105-2 are examples and may notrepresent the actual order parameter orientations within the respectivematerials.

As noted above, in one or more embodiments, the electric field (e.g.,120-2) between the electrodes (e.g., 118-1 and 118-2) may not besufficient to fully switch the magnetization 105 of the ferromagneticstorage material 106. However, in such cases, a remnant magnetic torquecan be induced within the storage material 106, which can reduce thebarrier to switching in the STT memory cell. For instance, the requiredprogramming current density to induce switching of the magnetization(e.g., from direction 105-1 to 105-2) is reduced due to the exchangecoupling between the multiferroic tunneling barrier material 108 and thestorage material 106 under the applied electric field 120-2.

In one or more embodiments, the gate electrodes gate electrodes118-1/118-2 can form a “surround gate” structure. For instance, theelectrodes 118-1/118-2 can wrap around the access device 125. In somesuch embodiments, the electrodes 118-1/118-2 can be a single gateelectrode that can surround the access device 125 and/or themultiferroic material (e.g., 108).

FIG. 2A illustrates an STT memory cell structure 200-1 in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The memory cellstructure 200-1 is a multi-bit structure comprising a stack structurethat includes a first multiferroic tunneling barrier material 208-1positioned between a first ferromagnetic storage material 206-1 and afirst pinned ferromagnetic material 210-1. The structure 200-1 includesa second multiferroic tunneling barrier material 208-2 positionedbetween a second ferromagnetic storage material 206-2 and a secondpinned ferromagnetic material 210-2. An antiferromagnetic material 212is located between the pinned ferromagnetic materials 210-1 and 210-2.As such, the materials 206-1, 208-1, 210-1, and 212 form a first MTJelement positioned between a top electrode 204 and a bottom electrode214. Similarly, the materials 206-2, 208-2, 210-2, and 212 form a secondMil element positioned between the top electrode 204 and the bottomelectrode 214. In this example, the first ferromagnetic storage material506-1 is in contact with the top electrode 204 and the secondferromagnetic storage material 506-2 is in contact with the bottomelectrode 214.

The arrow illustrated in the pinned ferromagnetic materials 210-1 and210-2 indicate the direction of magnetization within the respectivematerial 210-1 and 210-2. The arrows 205-1 and 205-2 indicatealternative directions of the magnetization within the respectiveferromagnetic storage materials 206-1 and 206-2 of structure 200-1(e.g., the magnetization directions 205-1 and 205-2 are switchablebetween a parallel or antiparallel orientation as compared to themagnetization direction of respective pinned materials 210-1 and 210-2).

The current 216 can represent a spin polarized current applied to thememory structure 200-1 (e.g., in a current perpendicular to planeconfiguration between the electrodes 204 and 214). The current 216produces an electric field 215 that rotates the ferroelectricpolarization of the multiferroic tunneling barrier materials 208-1 and208-2, which can reduce the magnitude of the critical current density(Jc) required to induce switching of the magnetization directions 205-1and 205-2 of the respective ferromagnetic storage materials 506-1 and506-2.

As described above, exchange coupling between the multiferroic materials208-1/208-2 and the ferromagnetic storage materials 206-1/206-2,responsive to an applied electric field, can influence the magneticpolarization 205-111205-2 of the ferromagnetic storage materials206-1/206-2. As an example, the STT structure 200-2 illustrated in FIG.2B includes a stack structure such as structure 200-1 coupled to avertical access device 225. The gate electrodes 218-1 and 218-2 of theVFET 225 are configured to provide an electric field (e.g., 220) to themultiferroic tunneling barrier materials 208-1 and 208-2 in order toalter the magnetization direction 205-1 of ferromagnetic storagematerial 206-1 and/or to alter the magnetization direction 205-2 offerromagnetic storage material 206-2. A gate oxide material 222-1/222-3insulates the first and second MTJ elements from the gate electrodes218-1/218-2.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 2B, the provided electric field 220results in magnetization direction 205-1 and 205-2 having anantiparallel configuration with respect to the magnetization of thepinned ferromagnetic materials 210-1 and 210-2. Arrows 217-1 and 217-2indicate the induced ferroelectric polarization direction ofmultiferroic materials 208-1 and 208-2, respectively, due to the appliedelectric field 220. As described above, the induced polarization 217-1and 217-2 can contribute to (e.g., influence) the magnetizationdirection 205-1 and 205-2 due to exchange coupling between themultiferroic tunneling barrier materials 208-1/208-2 and respectiveferromagnetic storage materials 206-2/206-2. The arrows 217-1, 217-2,205-1, and 205-2 are examples and may not represent the actual orderparameter orientations within the respective materials.

In various embodiments, the first multiferroic tunneling barriermaterial 208-1 can have a different ferroelectric polarizability thanthe second multiferroic tunneling barrier material 208-2. Differingferroelectric polarizabilities between the multiferroic materials208-1/208-2 can lead to different voltage requirements associated withthe particular multiferroic material. As such, the applied voltagedifference between gate electrodes 218-1 and 218-2 required to producean electric field (e.g., 220) sufficient to rotate the antiferromagneticand/or ferromagnetic order within the multiferroic material (e.g., 208-1and 208-2) can vary depending on the type of multiferroic material. Asan example, the first multiferroic tunneling barrier material 208-1 maybe BiFeO3 (BFO) and the second multiferroic tunneling barrier material208-2 may be TbMn2O5, or another multiferroic material having aferroelectric polarizability different from that of the multiferroicmaterial 208-1. In some such embodiments, a particular electric field(e.g., 220) provided to the stack structure 200-2 may be sufficient toswitch the magnetization direction of one of the first and the secondferromagnetic storage material 206-1/206-2 while being insufficient toswitch the magnetization direction of the other ferromagnetic storagematerial 5206-1/206-2. As such, the relative orientations of themagnetization directions 205-1 and 205-2 can be controlled via anapplied electric field (e.g., 220).

The different relative orientations of magnetization directions 205-1and 205-2 can correspond to different resistance values of the stackstructure 200-2, which can in turn correspond to multiple different datastates. For example, a read operation can be performed by providing aread current through the stack 200-2 (e.g., via a bit line and sourceline as described in FIG. 3) and determining a resistance levelassociated therewith (e.g., via a sensed voltage difference between thebit line and source line). As one example, the resistance level of thestructure 200-2 when the magnetization 205-1 and 205-2 are bothantiparallel to the magnetization of the pinned ferromagnetic materials210-1 and 210-2 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 2B) can correspond to a firstmulti-bit data state (e.g., “11”). In this example, the resistance levelof the structure 200-2 when the magnetization 205-1 is antiparallel tomaterial 210-1 and the magnetization 205-2 is parallel to material 210-2can correspond to a second multi-bit data state (e.g., “10”), theresistance level of the structure 200-2 when the magnetization 205-1 isparallel to material 210-1 and the magnetization 205-2 is antiparallelto material 210-2 can correspond to a third multi-bit data state (e.g.,“01”), and the resistance level of the structure 200-2 when themagnetizations 205-1 and 205-2 are both parallel to materials 210-1 and210-2 can correspond to a fourth multi-bit data state (e.g., “00”).

The electrodes described herein (e.g., 104, 114, 118-1, 118-2, 119-1,119-2, 204, 214, 218-1, 218-2) can be made of various conductivematerials or composite structures including, but not limited to,titanium (Ti), TiN (titanium nitride), TaN (tantalum nitride), copper,iridium, platinum, ruthenium, tantalum, and/or tungsten, for example. Asan example, in one or more embodiments, the bottom electrode (e.g., 114,214) can include a seed material or can include a seedmaterial/conductive material/capping material composite configuration.

Although embodiments are not limited to particular materials, theferromagnetic storage materials (e.g., 106, 206-1, 206-2) can be CoFeB,NiFe, or antiferromagnetically coupled materials such as CoFeB/Ru/CoFeB,for example. The tunneling barrier material (e.g., 108, 208-1, 208-2)can be MgO, Al2O3, or other magnetic insulators, for example. The pinnedferromagnetic material (e.g., 110, 210-1, 210-2.) can be Fe, FeNi, Co,FeB, CoFeB, or various synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structures suchas CoFe/Ru/CoFe or CoFe/Ru/CoFeB, for example. The antiferromagneticmaterial (e.g., 112, 212) can be NiO, CoO, FeMn, PtMn, IrMn, or NiMn,for example. The multiferroic tunneling barrier materials (e.g., 108,208-1, 208-2) can be BiFeO3 (BFO), TbMn2O5, TbMnO3, Bi₄Fe₂TiO₁₂, orNiBi₂O₄, for example.

FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of a memory array 350 having one or moreSTT memory cell structures in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure. An STT RAM cell can include an STT memory cell structure(e.g., such as structures 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 200-1, and 200-2described above) coupled to an access transistor 325. The accesstransistor 325 can be a vertical FET such as those shown in FIGS. 1A-1Cand FIG. 2B.

In this example, the array 350 includes a bit line 352, a word line 354,a source line 356, read/write circuitry 360, a bit line reference 366,and a sense amplifier 362. The STT memory structure 300 can include oneor more MTJ elements. As described above, the MTJ element of the STTmemory structure 300 can include a tunneling barrier material that is amultiferroic material (e.g., 108, 208-1, 208-2).

In operation, the STT memory cell structure 300 can be selected to beprogrammed. An electric field can be provided via voltage differencesapplied across electrodes corresponding to structure 300 (e.g.,electrodes 118-1, 118-2, 119-1, 119-2, 218-1, 218-2) in order to inducemagnetic polarization changes in the multiferroic tunneling barriermaterial of the structure 300, which results in correspondingmagnetization changes within the ferromagnetic storage material(s) ofstructure 300. In various instances, the applied electric field can besufficient to switch the magnetization direction of the storagematerial(s) (e.g., without providing additional programming current tothe cell).

In instances in which the applied electric field is not sufficient toinduce full switching of the magnetization of the ferromagnetic storagematerial(s), a programming current can be applied to the cell, and thecurrent can be spin polarized by the pinned ferromagnetic material(s) ofthe cell structure 300 such that a torque (e.g., a torque in addition tothe torque provided to the magnetic moments within the ferromagneticstorage material(s) due to the exchange coupling between the storagematerial(s) and one or more multiferroic materials in contact therewith)is exerted on the ferromagnetic storage material(s) (e.g., ferromagneticstorage materials 106, 206-1, 206-2), which can switch the magnetizationof the ferromagnetic storage material(s) to program (e.g. write to) thecell. In this manner, the application of the electric field can be usedto reduce the programming current (e.g., the critical switching current)required to switch the magnetization directions within the ferromagneticstorage material(s) of the STT memory cell.

In programming operations in which a programming current is used, theread/write circuitry 360 may generate a programming current to the bitline 352 and the source line 356. Once the ferromagnetic storagematerial is magnetized according to the spin polarity of the programmingcurrent, the programmed state is written to the STT RAM cell.

To read the STT RAM cell, the read/write circuitry 360 generates a readcurrent to the bit line 352 and the source line 356 through thestructure 300 and the transistor 325. The programmed state of the STTRAM cell depends on the resistance across the structure 300, which maybe determined by the voltage difference between the bit line 352 and thesource line 356. In one or more embodiments, the voltage difference maybe compared to a reference 366 and amplified by a sense amplifier 362.

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure can inducemagnetization switching within an STT RAM cell via applied electricfields, which can provide various benefits. For instance, embodimentscan reduce the current density required to induce magnetizationswitching in STT RAM cells. Embodiments can also assist with preventingthermally induced magnetic switching, which can provide addedreliability and/or stability associated with STT RAM cells, among otherbenefits. Embodiments can include multi-bit STT memory cell structureshaving reduced current density requirements for programming and can havea reduced physical footprint as compared to previous STT memory cells,among other benefits.

Spin Torque Transfer (STT) memory cell structures and methods aredescribed herein. One or more STT memory cell structures include atunneling barrier material positioned between a ferromagnetic storagematerial and a pinned ferromagnetic material in contact with anantiferromagnetic material. The tunneling barrier material is amultiferroic material and the antiferromagnetic material, theferromagnetic storage material, and the pinned ferromagnetic materialare positioned between a first electrode and a second electrode.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that anarrangement calculated to achieve the same results can be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coveradaptations or variations of various embodiments of the presentdisclosure. It is to be understood that the above description has beenmade in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combinationof the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specificallydescribed herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art uponreviewing the above description. The scope of the various embodiments ofthe present disclosure includes other applications in which the abovestructures and methods are used. Therefore, the scope of variousembodiments of the present disclosure should be determined withreference to the appended claims, along with the full range ofEquivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are groupedtogether in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining thedisclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the disclosed embodiments of the presentdisclosure have to use more features than are expressly recited in eachclaim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matterlies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus,the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separateembodiment.

What is claimed is: 1.-14. (canceled)
 15. A spin torque transfer (STT)memory cell structure, comprising: a tunneling barrier materialpositioned between a ferromagnetic storage material and a pinnedferromagnetic material in contact with an antiferromagnetic material,wherein the tunneling barrier material is a multiferroic material, andwherein the antiferromagnetic material, the ferromagnetic storagematerial, and the pinned ferromagnetic material are positioned between afirst electrode and a second electrode; and a third electrode configuredto provide an electric field to the multiferroic material responsive toa voltage applied between the third electrode and at least one of: thefirst electrode; the second electrode; and a fourth electrode; andwherein a dielectric material is positioned between the multiferroicmaterial and at least one of the third electrode and the fourthelectrode.
 16. The memory cell structure of claim 15, wherein at leastone of the third electrode and the fourth electrode is a gate of avertical transistor.
 17. The memory cell structure of claim 15, whereinthe electric field provided to the multiferroic material is sufficientto: induce a change in antiferromagnetic and/or ferromagnetic orderingof the multiferroic material; and provide antiferromagnetic and/orferromagnetic exchange coupling between the multiferroic material andthe ferromagnetic storage material such that a magnetization of theferromagnetic storage material is altered.
 18. The memory cell structureof claim 15, wherein the multiferroic material is bismuth ferrite(BiFeO3).
 19. The memory cell structure of claim 15, wherein themultiferroic material has a thickness of about 1 nanometer (nm) or less.20. A spin torque transfer (STT) memory cell, comprising: a stackstructure including: a first magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) elementpositioned between a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein atunneling barrier material of the first MTJ is a first multiferroicmaterial; a second MTJ element positioned between the first electrodeand the second electrode, wherein a tunneling barrier material of thesecond MTJ is a second multiferroic material; and an access devicecoupled to the stack structure, wherein the first and the secondmultiferroic materials are located between a first gate electrode and asecond gate electrode of the access device.
 21. The memory cell of claim20, wherein the access device is a vertical access transistor.
 22. Thememory cell of claim 20, wherein the first gate electrode and the secondgate electrode are configured to provide an electric field to thetunneling barrier material of the first and the second MTJ inassociation with a programming operation performed on the STT memorycell.
 23. The memory cell of claim 20, wherein: the first multiferroicmaterial is positioned between a first ferromagnetic storage materialand a first pinned ferromagnetic material associated with the first MTJelement; and the second multiferroic material is positioned between asecond ferromagnetic storage material and a second pinned ferromagneticmaterial associated with the second MTJ element.
 24. The memory cell ofclaim 20, wherein the first multiferroic material and the secondmultiferroic material have different ferroelectric polarizabilities. 25.A spin torque transfer (STT) memory cell, comprising: a magnetictunneling junction (MTJ) element positioned between a first electrodeand a second electrode, wherein a tunneling barrier material of the MTJis a multiferroic material; and a transistor coupled to the MTJ element,wherein the multiferroic material is located between a first gateelectrode and a second gate electrode of the transistor.
 26. The memorycell of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first gate electrode andthe second gate electrode is configured to provide an electric field tothe multiferroic material in association with a programming operationperformed on the STT memory cell.
 27. The memory cell of claim 25,wherein the multiferroic material includes: a first edge portion alignedwith a first edge portion of a ferromagnetic storage material of the MTJelement; and a second edge portion aligned with a second edge portion ofthe ferromagnetic storage material of the MTJ element.
 28. The memorycell of claim 25, wherein the transistor is a vertical field effecttransistor (vFET).
 29. A method of operating a spin torque transfer(STT) memory cell, the method comprising: altering a magnetizationdirection of a free ferromagnetic storage material of a magnetictunneling junction (MTJ) element of the STT memory cell by providing anelectric field to a multiferroic tunneling barrier material of the MTJelement, wherein providing the electric field to the multiferroictunneling barrier material includes applying a voltage differencebetween a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode of atransistor corresponding to the STT memory cell.
 30. The method of claim29, wherein altering the magnetization direction of the freeferromagnetic storage material includes switching the magnetizationdirection from a first configuration to a second configuration.
 31. Themethod of claim 30, switching the magnetization direction from the firstto the second configuration includes at least one of: switching themagnetization direction from a configuration parallel to a magnetizationdirection of a pinned ferromagnetic material of the MTJ element to amagnetization direction antiparallel to the magnetization direction ofthe pinned ferromagnetic material; and switching the magnetizationdirection from a configuration antiparallel to the magnetizationdirection of the pinned ferromagnetic material to a magnetizationdirection parallel to the magnetization direction of the pinnedferromagnetic material.
 32. The method of claim 29, wherein thetransistor is a vertical transistor.
 33. The method of claim 29,including altering a magnetization direction of a second freeferromagnetic storage material of a second MTJ element of the STT memorycell by providing the electric field to a multiferroic tunneling barriermaterial of the second MTJ element.
 34. The method of claim 33, whereinthe STT memory cell includes a bottom electrode and a top electrode, afirst additional electrode, and a second additional electrode, andwherein providing the electric field to the multiferroic tunnelingbarrier material of the MTJ element and the multiferroic tunnelingbarrier material of the second MTJ element includes applying a voltagedifference between the first and the second additional electrode.